Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-01-07
A coMMUNrCATroy

hundred miles north of San Diego presents
dreary appearance being much broken ant
nude Of trees with now and then house witt
gardens, like an oasis in the desert, to reiiev,
the monotomy of an almost uninterrupted
view OF barren hills and plains. In my for
mer letter did not mention the old towr
which Is about four miles north of the new
town OF San Diego and is now called "Nortl
San Diego II was, up to 1868 the count,
seat OF San Diego County and the only place
OF Importance IN the county. 1t long since
lost its prestige and now contains population
OF 300, with post office, schoolhouse, hotel and
Catholic church. Close by are the ruins oI
Gen. Stockton7s Notifications, and three miles
to the east is the old Emission" over ono
hundred years old, and on its porch the inya,
lid and tourist are wont 10 sit and muse with
the dust of century about them OF the char
octeristics of the people who worshiped there.
in whose bones have long ago crumbled into
dust. The California Southern railroad
passes close to the town and has station
there. For about fifty miles this road runs
near the ocean beach and every few miles
there is a station where small town has
sprung up as by magic. 1t is claimed for
each town by those interested, to have the
best climate and surf bathing on the coast.
Some of the towns are pleasantly situated with
a grand view of the OCEAN, valleys and noun
talns. Residence lots in these towns are sci
ling for fifty dollars and ap. Now we come
| to Tcmecula canon which is nearly twenty
seven miles long. The scenery in and around
the canon Is picturesque. Lofty barren noun
| talns on either side covered with rocks of al,
sizes and shapes and piled one upon another
IS scene long 10 be remembered. About
three years ago here was the great railroad
washout which cost more to repair the road
than to build it. AT one time there were
grave doubts whether or not the railroad COM
pany would repair it. In places in the canon
alter the washout there was not a vestice of
the roadbcd left. After coming out of the
north end of the canon the valley opens out
wider and the country looks better, but there
IS no water at present and nothing can be
raised without irrigation. Now we reach
Riverside valley famous for fine oranges and
other fruits. 1t is decided change from the
barren dreary country over which we have
Travelled. Here one sees the beautiful orange
groves whose trees arc laden with the delicious
iruit, some green, others ripe, and the very
air Is perfumed. There is thrift on every
hand. There are many beautiful homes
with flower gardens. This valley is called
the new Eden. Now we pass San GabrieI
where there Is an old adobe Mexican Church
over one hundred years old. II is an ancient
looking structure. Pasadena is the next
east OF Los Angeles, on the line of the San
Gabriel valley railroad. 1t IS said that San
Gabriel valley of which Pasadena is the
royal crown, Is in points Of beauty and pro
ductivencss the wonderland of the West
This valley Is now covered with thousands OF
acres OF rich vineyards and citrus groves. I am
informed that the soil of this valley is es-
pecially adapted TO the growth Of the vine-pro
grapes. The orange, lemon, olive and several
varieties OF nuts are cultivated quite extensive
ly. Most Of the land in the valley has been
divided into lots from five to thirty acres, five
acres being considered as sufficient for one
man to cultivate. The land is valued at prices
ranging from $500 TO ST. 500 per acre. There
Is direct communication 10y the San Gabriel
valley X. X. with all through Northern and
Eastern lines. Pasadena has population of
1900 and over $1,000, 900 has been invested
in building Improvements in the last year 1t
has three banks, two newspapers and all
branches Of trade and commerce are we'll rep
resented. II has fine public and private
schools, and churches Of different denomina-
tions doing good work. 1t has fine hotels
and proudly boasts one ofthe finest structures
Of that class on the Pacific coast, The Ray
mond. and it Is palace in all its appoint
ments.
Now we arrive at Los Angeles, "The An
gel City," but failed TO see any angels, that
Is. saw no wings. The city Of Los Angeles
has population of about $4,000 and it is the
great metropolis of Southern California Its
growth has been phenomenal, and no city in
the state has enjoyed such unprecedented
prosperity in SO few years. 1t is situated on
the line Of the S. P. r. X. and is the center
of network of railways running to the vari-
GUS points Of interest in Southern California.
1t contains many ofthe old adobes in delap-
idated condition which are. eyesores 10 the
city as strangers seeing them are not at first
favorably impressed with the city. The streets
are crowded and there is business activity
everywhere. There are many fine business
blocks and elegant residences with beautiful
gardens with ever blooming flowers Good
public and private schools, electric lights, ca
bic streets railways, several banks, first class
hotels with ample accommodations and the
churches are strongly represented. There
are many places of attractions in and around
Los Angeles. There is fine surf bathing at
Santa Monica and Long Beach which can
be reached daily, and short ride will take
one up into the Sierra Madres, whose peaks
reach skyward, where can be had all noun
tain sports. 1t is claimed that the climate of
Los Angeles is as equable and salubrious as
any where in Southern California. Its bust
ness and residence property is held at fancy
prices, and its real estate boom continues un-
abatcd. Every few days visitors from the
East by the hundreds arrive who are seeking
mild climate, this "Utopia of the West.
The real estate men have purchased all the
available locations along the coast and inland
in Southern California and laid them out into
town lots and extensively advertised their
great attractions as health and pleasure resorts
with climate unequaled and soil that will
grow all semi-tropical fruits to perfection.
The result OF this is that there is boom in real
estate all over Southern California and many
fortunes have been made suddenly. Now as
far as have been able to observe Los An
ralos * the onIv city soufh of San Francisco